If you’re interested in a career in healthcare, it’s worth exploring an RN career path. Registered nurses, or RNs, are what a lot of people think of when they imagine working in healthcare. RNs work directly with patients and collaborate with doctors and other healthcare professionals, making a difference in the lives of their patients every day.

But what does the RN career outlook look like in 2026 and beyond? Is working as a registered nurse a good career path to take right now? Understanding the current job outlook, potential specialties, earning potential, skills needed, and education requirements can help you decide whether this career path is right for you.

The Current State of the RN Career Path

Good news: The RN career outlook remains positive! According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of registered nurses is expected to grow 6% from 2025 through 2035. That’s faster than the average for all occupations in the U.S. Furthermore, in the State of Michigan, employment of RNs is projected to grow 8.3% from 2024-2034.

With promising growth expected, the next thing to consider is what it currently looks like to pursue an RN career path. That starts with looking at what registered nurses actually do. No matter where they work, RNs usually:

• Provide and coordinate patient care
• Educate patients and their families
• Administer treatments and medications
• Monitor patients
• Communicate with patients and other members of the healthcare team

The RN career path can take you into a wide range of healthcare environments. Hospitals employ the largest share of registered nurses, but RNs also work in other settings like:

• Doctors’ offices
• Outpatient care centers
• Schools
• Nursing homes
• Residential care facilities
• Home healthcare

The demand for nurses remains constant, especially as the population ages and more people manage chronic health conditions. Skilled professionals are needed who can provide ongoing care and support in these environments.

How much an RN makes depends on where they work as well as specializations, experience, and hours. What you may earn as an entry-level RN may be less, depending on a number of factors.

Another benefit of becoming an RN is the potential for career growth. With additional experience and education, you can move into advanced roles in leadership, administration, education, research, and more.

Specialties and Opportunities For RN’s

RNs work with a variety of patient populations, in different healthcare environments, and in different areas of care. These specialties and opportunities make a registered nurse career exciting and rewarding. Some nurses enjoy the fast pace of a hospital environment while others prefer a more predictable work environment, such as working with the same patients daily in a nursing home. Your interests can help guide the type of nursing role you pursue.

Some examples of RN specialties include:

• Pediatric nursing, which focuses on caring for infants, children, and teenagers
• Oncology nursing, where you care for patients being treated for cancer
• Geriatric nursing, focusing on the healthcare needs of older adults
• Addiction nursing, supporting patients receiving care related to substance use, addiction, and recovery
• Public health nursing, focusing on health education, disease prevention, and community

These are just a few examples. As a registered nurse, you could also work in areas such as emergency care, home health, mental health, and more.

The RN career path can also lead beyond traditional bedside nursing. With experience and additional education, some nurses move into roles in:

• Management
• Healthcare administration
• Education
• Research

This variety is an important consideration when you’re asking, “Is registered nurse a good career?” If you’re interested in a career that evolves as your interests develop, nursing offers many directions to explore.

Skills That Shape Successful RNs

Nursing involves more than knowing how to perform clinical tasks. Successful RNs also rely on:

• Communication: Listening to patients and understanding their concerns is important. So is listening to doctors and following their instructions. You’ll need to learn to tailor your communication style depending on who you’re talking to or listening to.
• Critical thinking: Monitoring changes in a patient’s condition and thinking through potential next steps in stressful situations means critical thinking is crucial.
• Compassion: Patients are often experiencing pain, fear, vulnerability, and uncertainty. It’s important to provide care while showing empathy and respect.
• Organization and attention to detail: Nurses often care for multiple patients at once who all have different needs/ Keeping track of medications, treatment plans, patient information, and other details requires strong organizational skills.
• Physical and emotional stamina: Nurses spend many hours on their feet as well as bending, walking, and helping move patients. They also encounter traumatic and stressful situations, so having emotional stamina and good coping skills is key to preventing burnout.

These skills are just as important as the technical skills you would learn in a nursing program. If you’re considering an RN career path, think about which of these skills you already have and which you may want to strengthen through education and experience.

Preparing for a Future as a Registered Nurse

Starting an RN career requires taking three main steps:

1. Education
2. Clinical preparation
3. Licensure

As far as education goes, some RNs choose to pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing while others choose an associate degree from an approved nursing program. Either way, it’s important to choose an accredited program, which means a third party has reviewed the program and has found it meets set quality standards for the industry.

No matter which education path you choose, your program should include a variety of:

• Classroom instruction
• Laboratory learning
• Hands-on clinical experiences

This trio is how you can build your technical knowledge and practice practical skills you’ll need for success.

Before you begin your education, you should also research the nursing licensure requirements in the state you plan to work in. Requirements can vary by state, so be sure you review this thoroughly.

Charting Your Path in a Growing Field With Dorsey College

Nursing is an exciting career path that provides opportunities to learn, gain experience, and discover which areas of healthcare interest you most. If you’re ready to explore an RN career, choosing the right education program can be an important first step.

Dorsey College offers an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program designed to help students prepare for a thriving career as a Registered Nurse. With opportunities for hands-on learning and a focus on preparing students for licensure in the state of Michigan, Dorsey College’s program teaches key nursing concepts and provides:

• Career services assistance for graduates
• Instructor support
• Opportunities to prepare for the NCLEX, the licensing examination required to become an RN
• Clinical experiences

For those considering a career in nursing, the current RN career outlook is encouraging. With projected employment growth, opportunities to work across a variety of settings and specialties, and several paths to success, nursing offers a career path with room to grow. If you’re ready to explore this career path further, click the button below to learn about Dorsey College’s Nursing program.

Career Services assistance is available to all program completers; however, job placement is not guaranteed.

Dorsey College has determined that its Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program curriculum is sufficient to fulfill educational requirements for licensure in the State of Michigan only. No educational determinations have been made for any other state, district, or US territory in regards to nursing licensure requirements.